ˌdīəˈpāz ə n, -ās ə n, attrib | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English dyapason, from Latin diapason, from Greek ( hē ) dia pasōn ( chordōn symphōnia ) the concord through all the notes, from dia through + pasōn, gen. plural feminine of pas all — more at dia- , pan-
1.
a.
(1) : the interval or consonance of the octave in Greek music
(2) : a part in music sounding such a consonance
(3) obsolete : complete accord, harmony, or agreement
b.
(1) : a burst of harmonious sound : melody , strain
the sweet diapason of their girlish voices
(2) : any full deep outburst of sound
ugly, deep-throated sounds wove themselves together in a diapason of protest — Hodding Carter
the foghorn sent deep diapasons of sound rolling through the fog
c. : one of the two principal foundation stops in the organ extending through the complete scale of the instrument
d.
(1) : the entire compass of musical tones
(2) : the entire compass, scope, or range (as of an activity or other phenomenon)
the vast diapason of his poetic talent
the unchanging diapason of life in a small country town
2.
a. : tuning fork
b. : a measure for determining the construction (as of flutes, oboes, organ pipes) so that the correct pitches may be produced
c. : a standard of pitch — see diapason normal